Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a line drive staged process

• US 7,562,707 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Miller, David Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/975,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20080135244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 166/258
• US Class Current: 166/245
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4037 In-situ processes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/30 Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0228 using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor

Abstract

Method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. Methods may include providing heat to a first section of the formation with one or more first heaters in the first section. First hydrocarbons may be heated in the first section such that at least some of the first hydrocarbons are mobilized. At least some of the mobilized first hydrocarbons may be produced through a production well located in a second section of the formation. The second section may be located substantially adjacent to the first section. A portion of the second section may be provided some heat from the mobilized first hydrocarbons, but is not conductively heated by heat from the first heaters. Heat may be provided to the second section with one or more second heaters in the second section to further heat the second section.

Claims

1. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing heat to a first section of the formation with one or more first heaters in the first section;

heating first hydrocarbons in the first section such that at least some of the first hydrocarbons are mobilized;

producing at least some of the mobilized first hydrocarbons through a production well located in a second section of the formation, the second section being located substantially adjacent to the first section and at least partially horizontally displaced from the first section, wherein a portion of the second section is provided some heat from the mobilized first hydrocarbons but is substantially not conductively heated by heat from the first heaters;

providing heat to the second section with one or more second heaters in the second section to further heat the second section;

heating second hydrocarbons in the second section such that at least some of the second hydrocarbons are mobilized; and

producing at least some of the mobilized second hydrocarbons through a production well located in a third section of the formation, wherein a portion of the third section proximate the production well is provided some heat from the mobilized second hydrocarbons.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating second hydrocarbons in the second section such that at least some of the second hydrocarbons are mobilized, and producing at least some of the mobilized second hydrocarbons from the second section, wherein at least some of the hydrocarbons in the mobilized second hydrocarbons were initially located in the second section.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring heat to the second section by allowing the mobilized first hydrocarbons to flow from the first section to the second section.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some heat from the mobilized first hydrocarbons is convectively transferred to the portion of the second section of the formation proximate the production well.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second section is proximate the production well.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first heaters conductively heat the first section.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the second heaters conductively heat the second section.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided heat increases the permeability of the first section and/or the second section.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided heat pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the first section and/or the second section.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising dewatering the first section and/or the second section prior to providing heat to the formation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of the first section is between about 70% and about 130% of the volume of the second section.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting a fluid into the first section to move at least some of the first hydrocarbons into the second section.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein superposition of heat from the first heaters does not overlap the portion proximate the production well in the second section.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing or turning off production in the production well in the second section when a temperature in the portion proximate the production well reaches a temperature of about 200°

C.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the third section of the formation is located substantially adjacent to and at least partially horizontally displaced from the second section of the formation.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the third section of the formation is not conductively heated by heat from the second heaters.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing heat to the third section with one or more third heaters in the third section to further heat the third section.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating third hydrocarbons in the third section such that at least some of the third hydrocarbons are mobilized, and producing at least some of the mobilized third hydrocarbons from the third section, wherein at least some of the hydrocarbons in the mobilized third hydrocarbons were initially located in the third section.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing or turning off production in the second section after production in the third section has started.

20. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing heat to a first section of the formation with one or more first heaters in the first section;

heating first hydrocarbons in the first section such that at least some of the first hydrocarbons are mobilized;

producing at least some of the mobilized first hydrocarbons through a production well located in a second section of the formation, the second section being located substantially adjacent to the first section, wherein a portion of the second section is provided some heat from the mobilized first hydrocarbons but is not conductively heated by heat from the first heaters;

controlling a temperature of the portion proximate the production well in the second section so that the temperature is at most about 200°

C.;

reducing or turning off production in the production well in the second section when a temperature in the portion proximate the production well reaches a temperature of about 200°

C.; and

providing heat to the second section with one or more second heaters in the second section to further heat the second section.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising heating second hydrocarbons in the second section such that at least some of the second hydrocarbons are mobilized, and producing at least some of the mobilized second hydrocarbons from the second section, wherein at least some of the hydrocarbons in the mobilized second hydrocarbons were initially located in the second section.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising transferring heat to the second section by allowing the mobilized first hydrocarbons to flow from the first section to the second section.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein at least some heat from the mobilized first hydrocarbons is convectively transferred to the portion of the second section of the formation proximate the production well.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the portion of the second section is proximate the production well.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein one or more of the first heaters conductively heat the first section.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the provided heat pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons in the first section and/or the second section.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the volume of the first section is between about 70% and about 130% of the volume of the second section.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising injecting a fluid into the first section to move at least some of the first hydrocarbons into the second section.

29. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

heating second hydrocarbons in the second section such that at least some of the second hydrocarbons are mobilized; and

producing at least some of the mobilized second hydrocarbons through a production well located in a third section of the formation, wherein a portion of the third section proximate the production well is provided some heat from the mobilized second hydrocarbons.

30. A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:

providing heat to a first section of the formation with one or more first heaters in the first section;

heating first hydrocarbons in the first section such that at least some of the first hydrocarbons are mobilized;

producing at least some of the mobilized first hydrocarbons through a production well located in a second section of the fonnation, the second section being located substantially adjacent to the first section, wherein a portion of the second section is provided some heat from the mobilized first hydrocarbons but is not conductively heated by heat from the first heaters;

controlling a temperature of the portion proximate the production well in the second section so that the temperature is at most about 200°

C.;

providing heat to the second section with one or more second heaters in the second section to further heat the second section;

heating second hydrocarbons in the second section such that at least some of the second hydrocarbons are mobilized; and

producing at least some of the mobilized second hydrocarbons through a production well located in a third section of the formation, wherein a portion of the third section proximate the production well is provided some heat from the mobilized second hydrocarbons.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising injecting a fluid into the first section to move at least some of the first hydrocarbons into the second section.